Lexical Summary
tsiy: Ship, fleet
Original Word:צִי
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:tsiy
Pronunciation:tsee
Phonetic Spelling:(tsee)
KJV: ship
Word Origin:[fromH6680 (צָּוָה - commanded)]
1. a ship (as a fixture)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
ship
Fromtsavah; a ship (as a fixture) -- ship.
see HEBREWtsavah
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I.
Isaiah 33:21 (loan-word from Egyptian
t'a£, according to Bondi
66, compare Erman
ZMG xivi (1892),123 DHM
VOJ viii. 7, 165); — absolute
Isaiah 33:21a majestic ship; plural
Numbers 24:24 (JE),
Ezekiel 30:9 (; but , compare , whence Co Berthol ).
, see I, II. .
see
see . see .
see II. . I. v, I.[[].
Topical Lexicon
Principal imageryצִי portrays the seagoing vessel—whether a lone ship or a fleet—standing for maritime movement, international commerce, and military projection. Scripture uses the term sparingly, yet each occurrence locates the vessel at a theological crossroads where human power meets the sovereignty of the LORD.
Distribution in Scripture
•Numbers 24:24
•Isaiah 33:21
•Ezekiel 30:9
•Daniel 11:30
From Balaam’s oracle on the plains of Moab to Daniel’s vision in Persia, the word appears only where the horizon widens beyond Israel’s borders, underscoring the reach of Gentile power and the ultimate supremacy of God over the nations.
Vehicles of foreign intervention
Numbers 24:24 andDaniel 11:30 bracket Israel’s history with a single motif: “Ships of Kittim.” In Balaam’s prophecy “ships will come from the coast of Kittim and overwhelm Asshur and Eber” (Numbers 24:24), announcing a future incursion of distant seafarers who will humble ancient superpowers. Daniel revisits the same expression when “Ships of Kittim will come against him” (Daniel 11:30), thwarting the ambitions of the northern king. Many scholars identify Kittim with Cyprus and, by extension, the maritime West—first Phoenician and Greek fleets, then Rome. In both passages צִי becomes a tangible sign that the rise and fall of empires lies in God’s hand.
Messengers of judgment
Ezekiel 30:9 situates the word in a vision of Egypt’s downfall: “Messengers will go out from Me in ships to frighten carefree Cush.” The vessel here is an agent of divine summons, rousing distant nations to witness the LORD’s judgment on Egypt. The image recalls the flood-waters of Noah and the locust storm of Joel—creation’s forces marshaled to execute righteous verdicts.
Contrast with Zion’s security
Isaiah 33:21 paints an eschatological Jerusalem surrounded by “rivers and wide canals, where no galley with oars will go, and no majestic ship will pass.” By denying צִי access to the holy city, the prophet highlights two truths: first, God Himself is the river that sustains Zion; second, human might—symbolized by the imposing warship—is powerless to breach His defenses. The absence of the ship underscores the presence of the King (Isaiah 33:22).
Historical horizons
1. Mediterranean expansion: Phoenicians, Greeks, and later Romans dominated the sea lanes. Their fleets carried commerce, culture, and conquest, fulfilling Balaam’s sketch of western intrusion.
2. Imperial rivalries: Asshur, Eber, Egypt, Cush, Seleucid Syria—all felt the impact of maritime powers. The limited but strategic use of צִי captures these pivot points.
3. Prophetic telescoping: By employing the same nautical term for events centuries apart (Numbers and Daniel), Scripture presents a continuous, coherent narrative of divine governance over history.
Theological themes
• Sovereignty: God summons, redirects, or restrains the ships according to His purpose (Proverbs 21:1).
• Transience of human power: The mightiest fleet cannot secure lasting dominion; empires sink beneath the waves of providence (Psalm 33:10-11).
• Hope for the faithful: Zion’s safety rests not in naval ingenuity but in the LORD who is “our judge, our lawgiver, our king” (Isaiah 33:22).
Ministry reflections
1. Trust God’s global reach: The same hand that governs distant fleets guides the believer’s personal voyage (Psalm 107:23-31).
2. Engage the nations: As ships once carried merchants and armies, so today God employs modern “vessels” (airlines, digital pathways) to spread the gospel (Matthew 28:19).
3. Guard against misplaced confidence: Churches and leaders must resist leaning on political or technological might, remembering that true security lies in covenant faithfulness (Psalm 20:7).
Summary
Though occurring only four times, צִי anchors pivotal prophetic scenes, revealing maritime power as both instrument and foil of divine rule. The word invites readers to lift their eyes from local concerns to the sweep of redemptive history, where every vessel, empire, and era moves under the command of the LORD of hosts.
Forms and Transliterations
בַּצִּ֔ים בצים וְצִ֥י וְצִים֙ וצי וצים צִיִּ֤ים ציים baṣ·ṣîm baṣṣîm batzTzim ṣî·yîm ṣîyîm tziYim veTzi veTzim wə·ṣî wə·ṣîm wəṣî wəṣîm
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